Thursday, February 26, 2015

My little baby is turning 19 months old in a matter of days. She's getting bigger and taller each day. She's learning new words like yesterday, she just uttered the word 'bag' for the first time. The day before that, she finally mastered pointing parts of her body like nose, eyes, ears, mouth, head, hair, and tummy. And boy, she's fond of bags and shoes just like her mom. She would open my closet, grab a bag or a pair of heels then go around wearing them. Haha!

Oh my darling.. I will do anything for her.

She is so pretty even with her poker face.

This is her baho face. My favorite.

I can upload videos of her doing the same stuff that other babies do in videos that goes viral over the internet, but no, I am keeping them for myself for now. Besides, my connection is cranky these days, so uploading a video can take a while. That's it. Only tree cute pictures. Till then! :)

Thursday, February 19, 2015

It's strawberry season. It's cheaper to buy them now than other times of the year, so I'm packing them strawberry bentos for my elder daughter. Strawberries are her favorite and the little one likes it, too. When we went to Baguio last November, the strawberries of La Trinidad were small and not ready yet. At the nearby wet market the other day, I saw fresh strawberries being sold at P70 per pack. Not the cheapest yet (I remember I used to buy them for P45) but I bought it anyway. Here's one of the a simple bento boxes that I prepared this week.

Here are some heart shaped strawberries for the the love month of February.

This close up shot makes me wanna munch them fresh sweet berries.

I have vegan pancakes cut in the same shape to compliment the berries. A slice of banana, some biscuits and jelly candies on the side.

Look how cute they are pinned together using food picks.

I still had a few leftover strawberries after this and used them in another bento the other day. Will the edit the photos soon and upload them here. Till then ladies. xoxo.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

My girls are allergic to chicken and eggs. I am allergic to chicken and eggs, too. I can live without eating chicken and teach kids not to eat chicken. However, avoiding baked products that contain eggs is really hard. Both my girls and I love snacking on breads and pastries so these days, I am training myself in eggless cooking or no egg baking. For a start, I found out how to come up with a pancake recipe that requires no egg. Yes, it has no eggs so it doubles as a vegan pancake.

-Sift flour, baking powder and salt all together. Set aside.
-In a bowl, mash the peeled banana until smooth.
-Add sugar, vanilla, oil and about half a cup of milk. Mix well.
-Gradually pour the flour mixture.
-Add more milk if the batter is still thick.
-Cook like your regular pancake.

The end product of this recipe is soft, delicious, and nutritious pancakes. If you are allergic to eggs just like us but not really on a strict vegan diet, I recommend to top your pancakes with butter or margarine. If you are a fan of cheese, you can add shredded cheese right after pouring your batter in the pan (before flipping it) for some added flavor. Of course, your all-time favorite pancake syrup is fine, too. As for me, I choose to skip sugar and instead, pour a generous amount of raw honey on my pancakes. Yummy!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you remain healthy. However, good dental health is not only crucial to keep your teeth and gums in good condition. It is also important because studies have shown that people who have poor dental hygiene have a greater chance of developing heart disease and other problems with their organs. This is why it is so vital for children to get in the habit of taking care of their teeth. One of the best ways to do this is to see a dentist from Kool Smiles or another dental clinic on a regular basis. However, a visit to the dentist can be a terrifying experience for many children. They often associate dental visits with horrible pain. Here are some ways you can help your child overcome a fear of dentists.

1. Start at an early age

The earlier you start taking your child to the dentist, the less likely they will be to develop a serious fear. They will become used to the entire dental process and the way certain instruments feel in their mouth. They will also get used to having two people standing over them while working on their mouth. Most dental visits, such as cleanings and x-rays, are purely routine. After the first two or three visits, your child should not have any serious apprehension about going to the dentist.

2. Less information

The first time you take a child to the dentist, do not give a great deal of information about what is going to happen. If you are too detailed in your explanation of a typical dental visit, there is a chance you could frighten your child. You need to trust and rely on your dentist to walk your child through his or her first dental visit. If your dentist has been working for many years, he or she has most likely dealt with hundreds of children on their first dental visit, so your child will be in good hands.

3. Prepare for your child's anxiety

No matter how much preparation you do for your child's first dental visit, there will probably be a few bumps along the way. Even if your reassure your child that everything will be alright, the reality is that two complete strangers will be poking around in your child's mouth. This is a strange experience that takes a while to get used to. If your child starts to cry or tantrum, get some advice from your dentist about how to proceed. Remember, dental professionals deal with this sort of thing every day, so let them guide you. Holding your child's hand is always a good way to give him or her comfort if they are really stressed out.

4. Teach your child about dental hygiene

It is important to make your child understand at an early age how vitally important good oral hygiene is. Make sure they know that visiting the dentist is something that needs to be done. Tell your child that although they might not enjoy it, the dentist is their friend and wants to help. It is important to make your child see your dentist as someone who would never intentionally hurt them. Once your child forms a bond of trust with the dentist, future visits will be easier.